Man on trial in Dubai for molesting 2 girls at store

Dubai - The defendant has been placed in detention following the incidents that took place on March 10.

An Arab man is standing trial at the Dubai Court of First Instance on two counts of molestation of girls aged 10 and 18. Public prosecution records show that the 34-year-old inappropriately touched the two girls repeatedly at a store.
The defendant has been placed in detention following the incidents that took place on March 10. The case was registered at Al Barsha police station.
The first victim said she was with her mother at the store. "It was around 6.30pm on March 10. I went away from my mother to the toys section."
She recounted how the defendant suddenly stood very close to her, while touching her inappropriately. She said she felt so scared that her heart started beating fast. She could not move as he would not let go of her even when she tried to walk away. He asked her if she needed a toy. She felt even more scared when he kept grabbing her.
When her mother took her to the security guards to report the incident, they found the defendant had been restrained over a complaint that he had molested another girl.
The 18-year-old complainant said the accused pressed his body against hers when she was in the fruits and vegetables section. He followed her to the clothes section and was about to touch her again when she stepped away. She complained to the security guards and pointed him out to them.
CCTV footage capturing the incidents was enclosed to the case file.
The accused admitted during the public prosecution investigation that he was the person caught on camera molesting the girls.
A ruling will be handed down on September 27.
mary@khaleejtimes.com 

• Dubai